Fake Sheikh going on trial over collapsed Tulisa drugs case

The trial of an undercover journalist accused of conspiring to pervert the course of justice in the case of pop star Tulisa Contostavlos is due to open.

Mazher Mahmood, 52, who was known as the "Fake Sheikh", allegedly misled the court during the collapsed drugs trial of the former N-Dubz star and X Factor judge.

The former News Of The World journalist, of Purley, south London, is on trial at the Old Bailey with Alan Smith, 66, a retired driver from Dereham, Norfolk.

Mahmood and Smith are charged with conspiring together to do an act, namely that Smith would change a draft statement to police, with the intention to pervert the course of justice, between June 22 and July 22 2014.

Prosecutor Sarah Forshaw QC is due to open the case to the jury.